Prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation is associated with considerable morbidity among critically ill children, including secondary infections, exposure to potentially neurotoxic sedatives, and muscle wasting. These adverse outcomes may have detrimental effects on childhood development. Children who require invasive mechanical ventilation also pose a unique set of clinical challenges. Short airways require precise endotracheal tube position, lower functional residual capacities potentiate the likelihood of hypoxemia, and episodes of inconsolability may lead to sedation administration. Such factors can impede implementation of intensive care unit liberation bundles, including those designed to promote wakefulness, spontaneous breathing, and ambulation.
Source: JAMA Online First